NEW car parks are to be built at Bolton train stations in an effort to entice commuters back onto the rail network.

Transport bosses have announced a scheme which could see work start on new car parks at Kearsley and Hall i' th' Wood stations by the end of this year.

It is hoped the car parks could help reduce traffic jams by cutting the number of commuters who opt to travel by car.

It would also help to relieve the problem of motorists who park in side streets around stations.

Cllr David Wilkinson, Bolton Council's executive member for the environment, said: "We want to get as many people back on to the rail network as possible.

"It's early days yet but we have the funding allocated and we are starting to look at all the issues that go with it.

"We could see work starting at the latter end of this year."

The car park at Kearsley will be built on a small patch of land to the north of Station Road with space for around 30 cars.

Cllr Bill Collison, who represents the Kearsley ward, said: "It's good news because we haven't had a car park until now but we will still be putting pressure on the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority for more trains to stop at the station. There are a lot of new houses being built and if people know there was a reliable service, they would start to use trains more."

Hall i' th' Wood's new station is to be built on land between Hall i' th' Wood Lane and Crompton Way.

Transport bosses announced last month that a new car park would be built at Daisy Hill station, Westhoughton. All three will be built using money from the Transport Infrastructure Fund, which is made up of money given to Bolton to compensate for missing out on a proposed extension to the Metrolink tram system.